El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve
(Saturday 11/17/01 [into Sunday morning for meteor shower gazing])
Subj: (11/17-Sat) El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve + nature's fireworks
Date: 11/14/01 5:47:05 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: PThuang
To: abao@cisco.com, svhikers@yahoogroups.com
CC: ai.luong@home.com, Tomo_Nguyen@yahoo.com

The banana slugs are back!

Remember them 6" long slimy but awefully cute banana slugs we had seen in Purisima, Portolla, and Big Basin earlier in the summer?  Well, they're back!  Because the ground is wet again.  Since some of us will watch the natural fireworks sunday morning (at least I know I will), Sunday morning hike seems unreasonable.  Thus, let's have a hike on Saturday morning - the usual.  The time difference till the meteor show is too great to make a hike/potluck, so let's just have the hike as usual in the morning, running into early afternoon, then gather again in the wee hours of the morning for those brave enough or have insomnia.  I understand we have a few of them? hehe... 
 For the hike, let's try a new one very close to Purisima - it's called "El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve".  Dont be fooled by the open-space in the name of the park, though. It's anything but open.  In fact, it's very much like Purisima except that the trails are not one-way up and one-way down, they're more up AND down at the same time.  What's there to see?  Your friends, of course!  Ok, there's more... there's a sandstone formation somewhat like that of Castle Rock, lots of different trees, from oak to manzanita to madrones to pines and other conifers.  And, there's one giant tree, called "Methuselah tree".  It's 1800 yrs old and at the base is a 14-ft diameter trunk.  Remember the big tree in Nisene Marks?  Well, this is even more majestic.  That tree had a 10-ft diameter trunk perhaps.  What else?  There's a couple of nice vista points overlooking the pacific (provided it's clear), and just generally very nice trails.  There are over 30 miles in trails, of which we'll hike 6 to 8 miles.  Elevation change will be up to 1,000 ft.  

The schedule is like this:
7:45 AM.  Meet at Bijan.  Those in the north can meet us at the parking area at about 9AM. (Skyline Blvd, about 8 miles south of Rt 92).
8:00 AM.  Carpool and leave for the park.  It should take no more than 45 minutes to get there. (Via 280 north - Woodside - Kings Mountain)
9:00 AM.  Start hiking.
1:00 PM.  Finish hiking, have picnic at Skeggs point (parking area - there're some tables and overlooks San Mateo/Milbrae)
2:00 PM.  Return to Bijan
3:00 PM to 12:00 AM (do whatever else you need to do... eat, sleep, shop, read, till...)
12:00 AM (Sunday).  Meet at Bijan [again!] if there's enough interest for the meteor shower.  Drive to Windy Hill.  (Arthur, Windy Hill is not that windy :)  It's just a name that is true sometimes.  Most of the times I've been up there, it's been calm, but of course we should all bring lots of warm clothing just in case).  There's no hiking involved!!  We just drive to this place and park!  (If it's too cloudy, we'll find another place or cancel)
1:00 AM - 3:00 AM.  Watch meteor shower, or fall asleep if that be what happens, hehe.
6:00 AM.  Watch sunrise - Windy Hill faces East so it's perfect. Ok, i was kidding.  No sunrise watching, unless of course you fell asleep during the meteor shower and can't get up!

Notes:
- Bring warm layered clothing, that is, once you start hiking, you might want to take the outer layer off.  Be prepared for this.
- No jeans if you can avoid it - you will get warm with the hike, even sweat! Count on it.  Wear sports pants or shorts.
- Wear sturdy shoes - it's time to leave the sneakers at home unless you want to muddy them big time.
- Bring a picnic lunch - we'll eat after the hike and thus can leave the food in the car.
- Bring ponchos - in case of rain.  I dont think it'll rain on Saturday though.  Bring umbrella if you dont have ponchos.
- This is a moderate hike, similar to Purisima but with more ups and downs.

I'll post details on the site later on.  If you want to go, please let me know.  Indicate:
1) Whether you are going to hike? If so, how many are coming?  If you are coming, would you rather hike Purisima?
2) Whether you want to see meteor shower?  If so, how many are coming?

Thanks you'all!  Take care.

paul

Schedule for this hike:

Trail Information

Location:  About 8miles South of 92, on Skyline Blvd.
Distance: 6.8 miles (a number of ups and downs)
Elevation change: +/- 1000 ft, starting elevation is about 2200 ft.
Time: ~4 to 5 hrs, depending on breaks taken.
Difficulty:  Moderate
Trail conditions: Mostlyshade and some sun. Trails are mostly car-width although a few stretches are small (2-person wide).
What to see:  The terrain is varied but mostly dense forest trees, from pines to redwoods to madrones to manzanitas.

Park information: http://www.openspace.org/CORTE.html, http://www.bahiker.com/southbayhikes/elcortemadera.html
Trail map: http://www.openspace.org/ECDM.pdf


Map/directions
 
Bijan Bakery

The Bijan bakery is in the Saratoga Square plaza (Lions Supermarket).  It is just off 280, a few miles south of 85 and a few miles north of 17.  This is our main meeting place where carpool will be arranged. Unless indicated otherwise, please meet here.

1. From 280 North or South, get off on Saratoga Ave, towards North (from 280 North, it would be right turn, from 280 South, it would be left turn). 
2. Make a left on Kiely Blvd, it is about 1/4 mile from 280.
3.  Make a left into the plaza driveway.  You'll see a store with the sign "Bakery" closest to Kiely Rd.  Burger King is across the parking lot in the same plaze.
4.  We'll meet in front of the bakery, by some outdoor cafe tables.
 

Use this link to get directions from your starting point: Directions. 
Skeggs point parking

1. Take 280 North for about 12 miles, then exit Woodside Rd towards west. You'll quickly come to a small downtown, drive through, staying on Woodside Rd.
2.  Stay on Woodside Rd for like about a mile or two and you'll hit "Kings Mountain Rd".  I believe there's a sign for "Huddart County Park" - go on this road.  It will be pretty curvy in places. 
3.  Stay on Kings Mountain Road for like 5 miles - you'll pass the entrance to Huddart County Park.  When you finally reach Skyline Blvd, turn left (South) onto it.
4.  Skeggs point parking lot is on your left hand side about a mile south.  You must go farther down (about 0.5 mile) and make a U-turn in order to go into the parking lot, you cannot enter from the northern direction of Skyline blvd.

If you are meeting us here, please let me know as we'll actually visit the Methuselah tree first, which is about 0.6 miles south on Skyline blvd.  Please call or email me if you are going to Skeggs point to meet us.  We should be at Skeggs point no later than 9 AM, though. 

Click on the map on the right to zoom in/out of the area.

Trail Map
We will follow the blue-colored trails.  We'll start from Skegges Point, then hike on Tafoni Trail to see the Sandstone formation.  Then we'll hike down Fir trail and see the Vista  point.  Then going farther down on Fir trail, we'll hit Methuselah trail and then Giant Salamander Trail.  From there, we hike onto Timberview Trail and then Manzanita Trail, and then finally Fir trail back to the trailhead - and on Skyline back to Skeggs Point


Notes about this hike

General notes about hiking trips

Probable next hike


Pictures from previous El Corte de Madera Creek hikes